CHARITY WORLD : KAI KORKKUNNA KARUNYAM

Charity World is the compassionate face of the Archdiocese of Changanassery, born from the vision of using media to teach the culture of sharing.

Its journey began on February 10, 2012, when Radio Media Village 90.8 FM was officially inaugurated by Union Minister Shri. Vayalar Ravi. The station was the brainchild of Mar Joseph Powathil, championed by Archbishop Emeritus Mar Joseph Perumthottam, and led by Fr. Antony Ethakatt and Fr. Sebastian Punnassery as Directors. Inspired by Mar Powathil's philosophy of using the airwaves to inspire generosity, programmes like Thanal and Sukrutham were launched. These shows brought the heart-wrenching stories of bedridden and financially struggling patients directly to listeners, inspiring them to come forward with immediate financial support.

Moved by these broadcasts, on May 5, 2012, Mr. Sunny Thomas Edamanickal joined hands with Fr. Sebastian Punnassery. Together they created a patient relief fund, began home visits to provide personal care, and mobilized volunteers to support impoverished kidney patients. This grassroots spirit led to the launch of the flagship community initiative Prathyasha on December 9, 2012, in Mambuzhakkeri. Built around local bucket collections across panchayats, it pioneered the "5-Hour Wonder" concept — raising millions of rupees in just five hours to fund high-cost liver, kidney and heart transplant surgeries.

As public participation grew, the movement needed a formal structure. In 2013, the live interactive programme Sukrutham was structured as a two-hour broadcast on the last Friday of every month. With the Station Director and needy families speaking live on air, each broadcast routinely raised around Rs. 2 lakh for each family in direct assistance. On May 7, 2014, Charity World Trust was officially registered as a religious and charitable institution, with Mar Joseph Perumthottam as its Settlor. Its first Board of Trustees included Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Mundakathil as Chairman, Very Rev. Fr. James Palackal as Vice Chairman, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Punnassery as Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Antony Ethakatt as Secretary, Rev. Fr. Joseph Parackal as Treasurer, and Mr. Mathew Jose Tharakamparampil, Mr. Joseph Thomas Edamanickal, Mr. Samson Mathew Valiyaparampil and Prof. Rani Maria Thomas as Members. In partnership with Dr. George Padanilam, the Trust also established the Jimmy Padanilam Centre to provide dedicated care and rehabilitation for children with special needs.

On December 20, 2016, Fr. Sebastian Punnassery along with Mr. Johnson Job Perumpayil initiated the Annadanam free food distribution scheme at Changanassery General Hospital. Created to ensure that no patient or bystander goes hungry, the programme later expanded to the Ayurveda Hospital in Perunna and has been running uninterrupted for nine years, serving over 300 meals every day.

The true strength of Charity World was seen during the catastrophic floods of August 2018 in Kuttanad. Following a call from Fr. Punnassery, and with large Torus trucks provided by the Palathra Brothers, the organization coordinated a massive rescue operation, rescuing thousands, housing them in relief camps in Changanassery, and delivering over Rs. 3 crore worth of medical aid and rehabilitation.

From 2019 to 2025, Charity World expanded into public health, sanitation and comprehensive relief. On July 31, 2019, the year-long Aarogyagramam initiative, funded in collaboration with Bayer and Concern India Foundation, concluded across the flood-affected panchayats of Muttar, Ramankary and Veliyanad. The project conducted health awareness camps, built 28 new toilets, constructed 152 septic tanks and renovated 58 sanitation facilities. On October 2, 2019, a massive community drive mobilized over 7,000 volunteers in Muttar for an intensive five-hour mega-cleaning operation to protect public health.

The organization also extended its reach through targeted initiatives like Sukruthagramam, a housing project with Mr. Saju Manjeerikkal that constructed 10 homes for homeless families; Rainbow Care, a specialized nutrition and health programme for children with special needs led by Dr. George Padanilam and Rev. Dr. Jose Nilavanathara; comprehensive Palliative Care and free dialysis kit distribution for thousands of kidney patients; monthly financial aid for cancer patients under Karunya Sparsham; and disaster relief operations providing shelter and care to victims of the Pettimudi landslide.

Marking over a decade of dedicated service, Charity World now operates under the guidance of Patron Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, President Rev. Fr. Antony Ethakatt, Directors Rev. Fr. Sebastian Punnassery and Fr. Jophy Puthuparampu, and Treasurer Fr. Libin Thundukalam.